Last week, ABA held the inaugural “Leadership Development for Front Line Professionals” training program, which is a class aimed at improving communication, leadership, and other critical skills needed to address myriad issues that could come up at any time during a shift.

“Having better trained front line supervisors who are able to communicate with those they supervise, and developing the next generation of leaders is a step toward filling the workforce gap.” – Robb MacKie, American Bakers Association

This three-day program covered topics ranging from managing difficult people and situations, to successfully leading change, to tackling performance problems. Attendees utilized an interactive, experiential learning style that allows them to put principles into practice.

A main take away from the Workforce Gap in U.S. Commercial Baking: Trends, Challenges and Solutions project is that 83 percent of the industry struggles with undertrained front line supervision. Companies often promote their best production leads into supervisory roles, but production does not often translate into leadership without proper training. ABA saw the need to respond to this concern, and in partnership with Hearthside University, created this program to help address the need to provide expert training to those leading the front lines in bakery manufacturing.

The next training program will be held November 1-3 again in Chicago, IL. Registration will open very soon for this event. If you have any questions regarding last week’s program or the upcoming November training, please contact Cory Martin at (202) 789-0300 or cmartin@americanbakers.org.